SC Senators Wrapping Up Work on Budget that Includes Stimulus Money

Columbia, SC—Even though Gov. Mark Sanford has said he will not request $350 million in federal stimulus money for this year’s budget unless it’s used to pay down debt, state senators worked on a budget Wednesday that would spend that money anyway.

The Senate budget would use the $350 million for education and law enforcement to prevent major cuts in those areas.

“$185 million of that $350 (million) goes directly to K through 12,“ says Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. “So it will help keep those teachers in the classroom, help provide supplies for them, things such as that. $99 million of that goes to Higher Ed so that, hopefully, we don’t expect the Higher Ed people to raise tuition. Without that, they said it would be at least double-digit tuition, which our people can’t stand.“

Another $65 million would go to public safety, including hiring more state troopers. Two weeks ago, as senators worked on a budget that did not include the stimulus funds, it looked like the Department of Public Safety would get hit with a 27 percent budget cut. Public Safety Director Mark Keel said that would mean the loss of hundreds of troopers. “I believe that’s going to lead to more fatalities on our highways,“ he said.

But under the budget the full Senate is wrapping up, the Department of Public Safety would be able to hire enough new troopers to raise their number statewide from 830 now up to 1,000.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted down an alternative budget proposed by allies of the governor. It would not have used the stimulus money.

The governor’s spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said, “We’re disappointed. An alternative was put forward that would have provided a far better starting point for discussion with our office, and would have done a better job funding the core functions of government like education and healthcare. Unfortunately, Senator Leatherman is more interested in playing politics with the budget than trying to work with the governor on something that meets our concerns about the need to pay down debt.“

If the Senate passes the budget that includes spending the stimulus money and the House goes along, the governor could veto it. “I believe we would have votes to override any veto he does,“ Sen. Leatherman says.

But even if they override the veto the matter still wouldn’t be settled. The governor says it’s his understanding that he would still have to request the money. If there’s a stalemate between the legislature passing a budget that uses the money and the governor refusing to ask for that money, the courts might have to decide.

The state Supreme Court recently rejected a lawsuit brought by a high school student who wanted the court to rule that the legislature had the right to request the money. In its order rejecting the case, the justices wrote, “We find this action is not ripe and appropriate for judicial determination unless or until the General Assembly has taken, as it is authorized to do, measures to appropriate the funds at issue.“